RAF flying goggles

When Great-Britain entered the war, most of their flight gear was outdated and intended for wear in open cockpit aircrafts. Some pilots chose to buy their own flight gear and that is a reason why Battle of Britain period pictures show non-military issue flight gear. This was certainly the case with helmets and goggles, for example Luxor was a civilian manufacturer but the Luxor goggles soon became well known among aircrew.

The RAF issue flying goggles were much heavier and not as comfortable as the Luxor goggles and soon the AM started to alter their goggles according to the pilots needs. So the goggles started to change from heavy and large face-covering goggles to lighter and less covering goggles later on.

Sunglasses, or in exact terms spectacles, were also designed by the Air Ministry and issued to air crew.

Early flying goggles

Left: A pair of RCAF Mk III flying goggles, dated 1940.

Middle: RAF issue MK III CL* flying goggles, in service from 1935.

Right: On top the RAF issue goggle and RCAF goggle underneath, note the difference in leather face pads.